THE 2021 GRAND NATIONAL RUNNERS & ODDS

Trainer O’Neill has always had one eye on the Grand National for Cloth Cap. His chances have significantly improved on the back of his win last time out at Newbury in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase. Has been given a good weight but will need quick ground to increase his chances.

Another class runner owned by the Ricci’s, Burrows Saint gave trainer Willie Mullins his first Irish Grand National win in 2019. Took a long break before returning this season, and just qualified for the 2021 Grand National when starting in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Feb 27th, finishing in second place. The Gold Cup is also on the cards.

The two-time Grand National winner didn’t get the chance to defend his crown in April but he should be back for another shot in 2021. He briefly left the betting markets following a terrible run at Cheltenham and in his last run he finished last at Navan. However, connections are confident and he will go to Cheltenham first.

A win in the Welsh Grand National in January and Secret Reprieve got himself off to a great start in 2021. Despite only being 7-years-old, trainer Evan Williams said he would seriously consider the Grand National but also has one eye on Cheltenham.

Beaten by only a neck in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, losing to Al Boum Photo, Santini is a great chaser but I doubt he’ll be heading to Aintree for the 2021 Grand National. It could be the gold cup again.

A very interesting 2021 Grand National prospect. Pulled up in the Irish Grand National 2019 but finished 2nd in the Becher Chase in both 2019 and 2020 so can definitely jump those tricky Aintree fences. Has also won over 3m5f so stamina and distance shouldn’t pose any issues.

A Cheltenham winner in the Kim Muir over 3m2f in 2019, this season hasn’t been great with two ninth-place finishes over hurdles and getting pulled up last time out in the Goffs Thyestes at Gowran Park.

Moved into the Grand National 2021 betting market when it was announced that the National is a possible aim for the chaser. Won the RSA Chase in 2018 before stepping up to the Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020, though he didn’t place in either. Has since been withdrawn from the Gold Cup 2021 due to recovering from a leg infection.

An absolute legend of a horse, Bristol De Mai has notched up earnings of more than £800K during his career so far. He has also won or placed in 22 of his 28 chase runs. Even the heavier weight won’t slow him down.

Nearly spoiled the Tiger Roll party in 2019 but had to settle for second place. The only mare to run in the race, she was also trainer Jessica Harrington’s first entry and a delight for those that had backed her each way at staggering odds of 125/1. Was on back-to-back wins last season and still looks great.

Winner of the Many Clouds Chase in December, this could be Lake View Lad’s second shot at the National after he pulled up in 2019. Always popular as one of the few greys to run, can he continue his winning ways in April 2021?

Upset the Tiger Roll party at the Cheltenham Festival when he won the Glenfarclas Chase in fine style. A really superb long distance chaser that could seriously contend for the 2021 Grand National.

Has been in great form since finishing second in the Pertemps Network Hurdle at Cheltenham last year. Has either won or come second in all seven of his last races including the win in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase in October.

An interesting prospect but lacks the long distance chasing experience having only had one start at 3m. A decent record of four wins from eight starts and will definitely head to Cheltenham for one of the five races he is currently entered into.

Sold by the Wylie’s and moved from Willie Mullins to trainer Sandy Thomson in October 2020, Bellshill is a horse that occasionally put in great performances including the Irish Gold Cup in 2019. Hasn’t won since and was in last place at Haydock in November.

Very much a long distance chaser who was second at Cheltenham last year in the National Hunt Cup and also ran in the Welsh National, finishing in ninth place in Jan 2021. Won the Grand National Trial at Haydock in Feb, boosting his chances but may need the ground a bit on the softer side.

Winner of the Bobbyjo Chase in both 2020 and 2021, Acapella Bourgeois has previously been entered into the National but has never run in it. In fact, he’s never run at Aintree. Will the 2021 Grand National be his first time?

Winner of the Midlands Grand National in March and the Welsh Grand National in December 2019, Potters Corner has stamina in bucket loads. Will need rain and soft ground to bring out the best in him but on the upside, he did win the Virtual Grand National!

Has notched up some notable wins including the Red Mills Chase and the Troytown Handicap Chase. Also ran in last year’s Gold Cup and finished second in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase last time out.

Ran in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last year to finish sixth. Has since come third at Punchestown and won a mare’s chase at Clonmel. Could also take her chances at Cheltenham first.

Solid novice chaser over the shorter distances but this season has been a mixed bag. Unseated in the Savills Chase and pulled-up in the Goffs Thyestes Chase – though the going was Heavy and that may have played a part.

Always does well around the Grand National fences. Was 4th in 2018 and fifth in 2019 despite being top weight. He was also second in the Gold Cup which he didn’t re-enter in 2020. Returned to racing this season in the BobbyJo Chase, ticking the box needed to qualify for the 2021 Grand National but finished last and odds dropped from 25/1 to 33/1.

Winner of the Ryanair Chase in 2018, that was also the last time he won a race. Has had four starts since October 2020 and has been well beaten in all of them.

Once of just two French-trained entries for 2021, Ajas, like stablemate Easysland, is only seven years old. He has never run in the UK or beyond 3m 1/2f so the National would be a huge test.

Winner at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019 in the National Hunt Chase over 3m7f. It was also his first attempt at a race of 3m+ so to win it was quite an achievement. The problem is that the Handicapper gave him such a low weight that he started off at number 85 so making the cut will be very, very difficult.

Has only been chasing for one season but is already showing signs of being very impressive. Won the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival on his first start at more than three miles and won on his return this season at Galway. However, his last two runs have been disappointing so a good run at Cheltenham will be needed.

Has won three of nine chase starts however, they were all as a novice and the last one was February 2019. Has only ever started one race at 2m7f and that was back in 2018. This distance of the Grand National will be a mammoth task for a horse that generally runs at 2m4f!

Was a hot favourite going into the 2017 Grand National but was pulled-up. Has taken on quite a few graded chases since then and was 4th in the Becher Chase in December 2019. Second place in the Peter Marsh Chase and a win at Kelso boosted his Grand National 2021 claims.

A runner with a lot of potential, Farclas bagged three back-to-back wins as a novice chaser and had a long break before moving up the ranks. Was 3rd over 3m in the Paddy Power Chase in December but that has been the longest distance so the Grand National will definitely be a challenge in stamina.

Has been an excellent chaser in races up to 3 miles, including a 2nd place at Cheltenham and a win last time out in the Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster. Good ground will suit him best as he’s a speedy horse who needs quick going.

A win last time out finally gave connections something to cheer about as it had been more than 4 years since Double Shuffle had bagged a victory. However, I don’t think that the 2021 Grand National will be his next.

With one eye on the 2021 Grand National, Death Duty tackled his first race beyond 3m in November. Running over 3m5f at Fairyhouse, he finished a respectable 6th but has yet to win a race since injury sidelined him for nearly 2 years back in 2018.

There was a lot of buzz around Discorama last season and with another year under his belt, he could be one to watch for the 2021 Grand National. He was third in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020 and if he keeps up his decent form then expect his odds to fall if he gets an entry. He may also head to the Welsh national first so watch this space.

Moved to trainer Willie Mullins in April 2019, having had a racing career in France until then. Has run five times for the new yard but hasn’t been seen since Jan 2020.

There’s a lot to like about Canelo. Was a reasonably successful novice hurdler but has really come into his own as a chaser, stepping up in the classes and distances at a nice pace, culminating in a win in the Rowland Meyrick in November 2020. Has also never fallen, pulled up or unseated his jockey which bodes well for his jumping ability. The distance will be a test but could do well.

With 41 chase starts under his belt, Al Roc is one of the most experienced potential runners entered for the 2021 Grand National. The vast majority have been in France before he was transferred to Dr. Richard Newland in January 2021. Has since run in the Portman Cup, finishing 5th of six runners.

An experienced chaser who consistently runs well but has never been tested beyond 3m but of all the horses entered, jockey Katie Walsh said she would pick Cap Du Nord to ride in the Grand National if given the choice so definitely one to watch!

Yala Enki is a fine horse that moved from trainer Venetia Williams to Paul Nicholls. Has had a few Grand National entries but has never actually run in it and instead ran in the Gold Cup last season, finishing in 7th place. Was third in the Welsh National and is usually partnered with Bryony Frost.

Won last time out at Ascot is a solid chaser who has notched up five wins from 14 starts over fences. Usually heads to the Cheltenham Festival and undoubtedly will go there again in March. Whether he runs in the 2021 Grand National is another matter entirely.

Articulum is a frustrating horse that either places or bombs. Since October 2019 he has run nine times. Of those, he was either second or third in five of them but Fell, Unseated, or Pulled up in the other four.

Isn’t having the greatest season so far. Pulled up last time out in the Savills Chase and was 8th in the Becher Chase in December though he did get around successfully and clearly can navigate the fences so that boosted the Grand National 2021 credentials.

Is better known as a hurdler but began his chasing career last season and did well as a novice. Only time will tell if he can step up in class and distance so a lot depends on his prep before the National in 2021.

Winner of the 2020 Becher Chase, his second from five attempts and has run in the National a remarkable four times, finishing but not placing in all of them. Will the fifth time be the charm in the 2021 Grand National?

A very interesting Grand National 2021 contender. Has far more experience over hurdles and was 9th in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham last year. Is moving up through the chasing ranks and won the Troytown Handicap Chase in November.

Ran in the 2019 National but unfortunately fell early in the race. Returned to Aintree for the Becher Chase in December 2019 and finished 11th, a long way off the winner. Improved at Ascot with a win and at 11-years old for the Grand National 2021, could do very well.

Didn’t finish last season very well, pulling up twice on the bounce including at Cheltenham in the RSA Chase. Started back this season in better form, winning at Sandown but may struggle with the distance of the Grand National 2021.

Winner of the Kerry National in September 2020 and looks likely to head to the inaugural Mares Chase at Cheltenham. Could put in a good run if on form on the day.

Ran in the 2018 Grand National but fell at The Chair on the first circuit. A few months later and he moved to Gordon Elliott’s yard and was entered again in 2019 but was withdrawn due to injury. He is not on great form this season and has finished last twice and pulled up in two others.

Winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in 2019, Beware The Bear could take his chances at the Grand National 2021 but only if the ground doesn’t try up prior to the race. Was 5th last time out in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase but a long way off the winner Cloth Cap.

It’s been over two years since Tout Est Permis last saw the winners enclosure and this season hasn’t really produced any great runs either. He was well beaten in the Savills Chase (78L) and pulled up last time out in the Goffs Thyestes.

Pulled up in his last chase in Feb 2020 and has two runs since, both over the flat. That means no qualification for the 2021 Grand National yet. Needs to start in a chase this season and has been entered at Kempton so could still meet the criteria.

Winner of the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster in January, Takingrisks also won the Scottish National in 2019 so definitely has what it takes to put in a good run.

A handy chaser but over the shorter distances. Has never been tested beyond 2m7½f and hasn’t won a race since December 2018. The 2021 Grand National may be too much of an ask.

Has previously been entered but never actually run in the Grand National though he did run in the Becher Chase in December. However, he fell at the ninth so no guarantees he will head back to Aintree in April.